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So established is Circle K that even brand-new vehicles recognize what its red-and-white logo stands for?fuel, snacks, and everything else a car might need to keep powering down the road with its driver. Circle K's story starts back in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay's Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Under his guidance, these three little shops grew into the more than 3,000 convenience stores that crouch on our nation's street corners today.

After rolling up to a Circle K, drivers can pump their faithful roadsters full of high-octane fuel and send them skipping through a car wash to experience the cleansing touch of Blue Coral Beyond Green and Rain-X products. Then it's time to step inside the air-conditioned shop for a peek at the provisions. Rows of sodas hibernate behind glass doors, and snacks, candy, and their ATM guardians stand boldly out in the open. Some Circle Ks also offer the Take Away Fresh Caf?, which presents an appetizing lineup of healthy road fare including sandwiches, fruit cups, and fresh-cut vegetables. Drivers can gear up for a long drive with premium coffees or enjoy a cold Polar Pop, whose specially formulated cup keeps drinks colder thanks to the family of tiny snowmen trapped in its foam walls.

Groupon Guide

Poets have long cornered the market on love letters, but mathematicians might have a new advantage when it comes to romantic gift giving.
At her new Andersonville boutique, Winifred Grace (5642 N. Clark Street), jewelry designer Winifred Gundeck specializes in creating simple bronze pendants stamped with letters, symbols, and—frequently—numbers with sentimental value.
What is a sentimental code, exactly? For one customer, it was the geographic coordinates of the Ferris wheel where he proposed to his wife. For another, it was the house number of her mom’s childhood home. Still others opt for momentous dates, often stamped with no punctuation as six-digit strings of numbers.
“You can get really personal,” Winifred said. Yet her cool, simple designs, with their “modern-looking” sans-serif typeface, acknowledge the fact that not everyone wants to wear something as sappy as, say, a necklace with the word “love” on it.
“I want pieces of jewelry that represent my son and how important he is to me,” she said of her own bronze pendant, which features a capital “A” in honor of her son, Alexander. “I want pieces that I can wear every day, and when I put [them] on, I don’t even have to think about them.”
As such, her boutique is full of versatile, everyday accessories like that one—five of which she shared with us below. (To see more of Winifred’s custom work, check out her Instagram, where she posts prolifically.)
1. Custom-stamped pendants ($150 large; $135 small)
The bigger one is stamped with the coordinates of Chicago, the smaller one with initials. Winifred said they look good whether they’re a little tarnished or freshly polished—and each one comes with a free polishing cloth.
The stamping process takes 10–15 minutes, which means they can be made while you wait. Price-wise, the smallest pendant costs $90 (unstamped). For stamping, there’s an additional setup fee and a charge of $3 per letter.
2. Aries constellation bracelet ($143)
Winifred offers bronze bangles punched with all 12 astrological signs’ constellations. The Aries one is her favorite “because it’s very minimal.”
3. Horse-bit chain bracelet ($290)
This chunky, toggle-clasp bracelet is “inspired by vintage Cartier,” as well as the real gold Gucci bracelets Winifred inherited from her mom. “I just loved them,” she said. “They made me feel like a disco queen.”
This particular bracelet is also inspired by a horse bit—a shape that’s ubiquitous even outside the farm. “Gucci, their signature buckle on their shoes—it’s a horse bit.”
4. 60-millimeter round pendant ($170)
Anthropologie has stocked this necklace, which Winifred said “is nice because you tie [the leather] off at any length.” She also likes the way she put the pendants’ tiny jump rings to use: they hold the leather cord rather than dangling decoratively.
5. Bar ring ($127)
This is “supercomfortable to wear,” Winifred said. “Your fingers just nestle in around the shape of the ring. It has two places cut out for your [adjacent] fingers.” She also stocks it in multiple sizes and can custom-make sizes she doesn’t have in two to three weeks.
Photos: Andrew Nawrocki, Groupon

Earlier this season, we previewed some of the summer’s most stylish movies. We then (inevitably) started waxing nostalgic about our favorite films from summers past—those VHS’s we watched until the magnetic tape wore thin, and the lines we repeated until they became colloquialisms. (“Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” and “Hold on to your butts.”)
Why wouldn’t we want to honor those movies, too? Here, we’ve selected the most stylish characters from six of our all-time favorite summer films, and curated outfits that remind us of their costumes.
American Graffiti (1973)
Fitted bodice dress, Alice and Olivia ($440); Jitney sandal in black, Marais ($147); Openwork cardigan, Mango ($27.99 on sale)
Best-dressed character: Debbie
Why we love the look: Vintage-inspired dresses with that fit-and-flare shape have had a renaissance of late, thanks to TV shows such as Mad Men and Masters of Sex.
Where to wear it: An alfresco dinner. The cardigan’s open weave makes it the perfect sweater for a cool summer night.
Read more about what to wear on patios and how to style summer sweaters.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Crepe halter top, Tibi ($138.60 on sale); High-waisted shorts, River Island ($60); Champion originals, Keds ($45); Hand-cut leather belt, Wolf & Badger ($99)
Best-dressed character: Frances “Baby” Houseman
Why we love the look: Jean shorts, Keds, a basic tank…think breezy summer fashion at its finest.
Where to wear it: A street fest. If Baby’s moves are any indication, it’ll help you shimmy through the crowds with ease.
The Sandlot (1993)
Ruched halter swimsuit, J. Crew ($98); Jungle Red lipstick, NARS ($26); Cat-eye sunglasses, CRAP Eyewear ($56)
Best-dressed character: Even though our 10-year-old selves are still crushing hard on Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, we have to give this one to Wendy Peffercorn.
Why we love the look: This ruched one-piece is flattering for most any body type, and it’s hard not to look fierce while peeking over the tops of these cat-eye shades.
Where to wear it: Pool party! Beach party! Anywhere with a large enough body of water!
Check out other examples of pop-culture-inspired swimwear.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Blouse with cropped sleeve, Zara ($19.99 on sale); Tailored skinny jeans, paper denim & cloth ($152 on sale); Beckett sunglasses, Warby Parker ($95); Harper moto boot, rag & bone ($575); Arrowhead ring, Pamela Love ($625)
Best-dressed character: Dr. Ian Malcolm
Why we love the look: Don’t get us wrong, summer’s vivid color palette is fun, but this all-black ensemble is a refreshing break from the neon norm. Plus, Goldblum.
Where to wear it: This would be too hot for an outdoor music festival, but perfect for a late-night show at a corner bar.
Find more summer concert style ideas.
Now and Then (1995)
Cutout chambray dress, Intermix ($495); Architecture Outing bag, ModCloth ($89.99); T-strap flats, Francesca’s ($28); Glam lipstick in Lotus, NYX ($6)
Best-dressed character: Teeny, obviously. She grew up to be a movie star!
Why we love the look: The cutouts on this dress are perfectly flirty, and the dusty-pink bag reminds us of the foursome’s amazing treehouse.
Where to wear it: No treehouse? Then post up beneath some trees for a picnic in the park.
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Clifton ringer tee, Spreadshirt ($31.10); Track shorts, Madewell ($49.50); Slip-on sneakers, Bucketfeet ($65)
Best-dressed character: ‘70s chic abounds in this cult favorite, but we’ll go with McKinley for his classic summer-camp style.
Why we love the look: It’s colorful, comfy, and nostalgic all at once.
Where to wear it: If summer camp’s not in the cards, then organize a WHAS viewing party in your backyard.
Also, see our tips for styling your home like a summer camp.

It holds your keys, your cash, and your lip balm. It probably complements your shoes or your belt. But if your purse looks like a purse, you’re missing out on a trend that’s gaining momentum: handbags made to look like anything but.
This season, you can find a purse shaped like a snack, an animal, or even a piece of machinery. To ease into this quirky trend, let the bag be the focus: pair it with an outfit composed of solid colors and sleek lines, such as jeans and a button-down.
1. Grand Tour Wicker Camera; Kate Spade ($178, on sale)
2. Feline Bold bag; ModCloth ($59.99)
3. Gummi Bear clutch; Charlotte Olympia ($797, on sale)
4. Queen of Hearts clutch; Urania Gazelli (price upon request); similar style available at Anthropologie ($998)
5. On the Prowl handbag; Mary Frances ($308)
6. Wireless clutch; Charlotte Olympia ($597, on sale)
Check out more clutches at ideeli.

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